One of the drones that was used by firefighters at the St Marys factory. Photo: FRNSW
Drones have helped Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews to put out a major chemical fire at a waste facility in western Sydney.
A large fire broke out at the recycling plant in Christie Street, St Marys, around 1.45pm on Tuesday (February 4), according to the FRNSW.
Two drones were positioned on opposite sides of the fire to track fire spread, size, and intensity while a third drone monitored water runoff.
A larger drone was also deployed over the factory to help monitor air quality.
Due to the intensity of the blaze, firefighters were unable to enter the building.
But the FRNSW says an indoor drone flew into the main warehouse and its live footage was streamed to incident commanders to assess the extent of the fire and if firefighters were directing water streams in the most effective areas.
This drone was also used to confirm that the fire had been extinguished and that firefighters could safely enter the complex.
FRNSW Assistant Commissioner Metropolitan Operations Michael Morris says the drone technology is “a real game changer”.
“Our remarkable drone technology has played a major role in our ability to contain and ultimately extinguish this fire,” he says.
“The drones help guide effective decision making in where to put the water streams to extinguish the fire quicker as well as prevent excessive water runoff.”
At the height of the blaze, more than 100 firefighters and 20 fire trucks were deployed on site.
Authorities had to evacuate nearby businesses and two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion at the scene; one was taken to Mount Druitt hospital in a stable condition.
The drones were also used to assess damage and clean-up activities after the fire was extinguished.
The indoor drone inspected canisters, containers, and drums to determine the level of risk and whether firefighters were required to enter the building.
